The Last Gift of Christmas

The German pickle ornament is the last gift of Christmas. The pickle ornament is hidden somewhere in the tree. Whoever finds it gets the extra, last gift of Christmas. While it is usually a hot cocoa mix, family game, or homemade brownie mix, this year it was wrapped in the favored snowmen nesting boxes. All seven of them! Simon and Norah took turns opening to see what was hidden where. Norah opened the littlest box to reveal . . .

two skeleton keys. One on a green frog key chain with an "S" and one on a blue dolphin key chain with an "N". They light up and make noise. But what do these keys open?

Perhaps the garage door? Of course each one had to try their key.

Perhaps the front door? After a few tries definitely not the front door. After all, Santa's key worked to open this door.

Another try just might work.

Perhaps the back door. Which is directly in line with the basement door.

Eric stood by the closed basement door as a clue. Simon looked at him, pondered, and asked "the basement"? Maybe. So he goes down a few stairs and exclaims "Daddy, your project"! He has yet to see. He turns the corner, and goes straight to the door. They were both so excited and shook with joy. Sheer, happy joy!

They first noticed those big boxes, what could possibly be in there?

But, we stop to read mail first. Fabric postcards mailed directly to

3017 S. Stair Way

Basement.

Bean bag chairs were in the large boxes!!!! She did not let go of her key or mail!

A very happy boy!

In and out and in and out! Oh, the possibilities. We took the keys away, let them have the key chains. For some reason our spare skeleton key locks the door from the outside, but sticks when attempting to unlock from the outside. Sort of defeats the purpose of a spare key. So until the dutch door is completed, the keychains remain keyless. The framed square is a porch light. The slit below is the mail slot. The letters are the address.

Thanks Daddy, your "little project" is awesome!

The porch light is on in this picture. They love it. Grandpa's tools and building set are on "Simon's" end. A doll bed and high chair are on the other end. The bean bags come in and out. Books have been strategically placed by the respective bean bag chairs. A little treasure box has been placed on an unfinished shelf on the inside. A sheep bell, purchased in Milwaukee for Simon by Grandma and Grandpa a while ago, is hung right now on the door knob. It will be added to the wall next to the porch light for the doorbell. Christmas day Simon said, "Mommy, when you get my slippers, just ring the doorbell to get a hold of me".

We all enjoy and love the new playhouse. It has also been referred to as a clubhouse. I imagine cold winter, housebound days to include lunch in the little house in the basement. And perhaps sleepovers on hot summer days. Book nooks, hideouts, and who knows what else the imagination conjus up will come our way. It is theirs to do with as they please, mostly!